Jackson, junior, was anxious to go away without
the horse, but I told him to wait a bit while I put on the harness.
The animal was of a mouse colour, very tall, something like a
giraffe; and by the time I got him between the shafts, I could see
that he was possessed by a devil of some kind. It might be a winged
one who would fly away with me; so, in order to have a clear course,
I led him through the gateway into the middle of the road, and while
Jackson, junior, held his head, I mounted carefully into the trap. I
held the lines ready for a start, and after some hesitation the
giraffe did start, but he went tail foremost. I tried to reverse the
engine, but it would only work in one direction. He backed me into
the ditch, and then across it on to the side path, then against the
fence, bucking at it, and trying to go through and put me in the
Tarra. I told Andrew, junior, to take the giraffe home to his
parent, and relate what he had seen.
My next horse was a black one from Sale, and he also was possessed of
a devil, but one of a different species. He was named Gilpin, and
the very name ought to have been a warning to me if I had had sense
enough to profit by it. Just as I sat down, and took the reins, and
was going to observe what he would do, he suddenly went away at full
gallop. I tried to pull him in, but he put his chin against his
chest, and the harder I pulled the faster he flew.
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